Tube-expander.



PATENTED AUG. 1a, 1903.

J. J. CAIN.

TUBE EXPANDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 19oz.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

avwcuboz $51 a rway m Witmaooeo (911mb: Bfimwmamx No. 736,684. PATENTEDAUG. 18, 1903.

J. J. GAIN.

TUBE EXPANDER.

APPLICATION FILED we. 4, 1902.

l l I Nrrnn STATES Patented August 18, 1903.

PATENT @FFICE.

TUBE-EXPANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 736,684, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed August 4,1902.

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. CAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State ofNew Jersey,have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Tube-Expanders, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices for expanding tubes in tube-sheets ofsteam-generators.

The device is more particularly designed for expanding the water-tubesof sectional steam-generators into the corrugated or serpentine form ofheaders employed in generators of the Babcock and VVilcoX type.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of the machine applied foroperation to a header supported upon aholder located adjacent thereto toexpand the series of connecting water-tubes therein; Fig. 2, a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 3, anenlarged plan view, partly in section,showing the construction of the clutch device and operating mechanism;Fig. 4, a vertical section of the same, and Fig. 5 a front view of themachine.

In the several figures the corresponding 11nmerals and lettersindicatethe same parts.

In the drawings, 1 represents the framework upon which the machine ismounted.

2 is the operating-shaft, to which motion is conveyed by beveled gearsfrom the countershaft 3, which communicates with the powershaft throughthe chain belt and sprocketwheel 4.

The operating mechanism is mounted upon a cross-head 5 and arrangedtransversely upon the framework 1 and is operated through the medium ofthe beveled gearing 6 7 8, clutchgearing 9 10, and .shaft 11, connectingwith the expanding-too126. The gear 6 is slidably secured to the shaft 2by means of a groove and featherac o. The cross-head 5 rests upon ways mm and is moved longitudinally along the same by means of the hand-wheel12 and connected pinion 13, meshing with the fixed rack 14., as shown inFig. 4, wherebyit is longitudinally adjusted in position to be operatedin connection with each tube opening in the header.

The header-support is shown in Figs. 1 and Serial No. 118,218. (Nomodel.)

2, plan and side position, respectively, the header A being held betweenheads 15 and 16, secured to its supporting-frame 17.

The clutch-gears 9 and 10 are mounted loosely on the shaft 11 and bothconstantly mesh with the fixed gearing, through which the power istransmitted from the operatingshaft 2, and consequently turn in oppositedirections.

The clutch-collar 18 is slidably connected with the shaft 11 by means'of a slot and feather and is operated by the hand-lever l9, pivoted at20.

\Vhen the lever 19 is in its central position, as shown in Fig. 3, theclutch is disengaged, and when the lever is moved to the right or leftthe clutch engages with one of the gears to rotate the shaft 11 andexpanding-tool in the direction desired.

The connection between the shaft 11 and the expanding-tool comprises asocket-sleeve 21, in which a sliding shank 22 is held. This shank ismade square in cross-section to prevent its rotation independent of theshaft and is capable of longitudinal movement to accommodatethe'expanding-tool to variable distances between the machine and theoperating position of the expanding-tool.

Intermediate of the projecting end or head of the sleeve 21 and theexpanding-tool a link 23 is provided, connecting the respective parts bymeans of universal joints 30, which provide for the rotation of theexpanding-tool with the machine when located at an angle out of linewith the tube operated upon, This or'equivalent means of connecting theexpanding-tool with the operatingmachine and the type of theexpanding-tool shown are not specifically claimed herein, as otherdevices for connecting these parts may be substituted and other knowntypes of expanding-tools employed.

The operation of the machine to eifeet this expansion of each tube inthe header will be readily understood from the drawings and theforegoing description of its parts, the mechanism for operating theexpanders being moved along the ways and shaft 2 into position toregister with each hand-hole opening in the face of the header oppositethe respective tubes and then secured in place by the pawl and ratchet25.

By means of the double-clutch device the shaft carrying the connecteddevices for rotating the expanding-tool is rotated in one direction asthe tool enters the tube and is reversed when the tool is withdrawn.

The head of the expander is shown fitted with rollers 27. The kind ofexpanding-head employed may be different from that shown and changed tofit the character of the work upon which the tool is used.

When all the tubes are expanded in the header and the tool withdrawn,covers are placed over the hand-holes in the face of the header, andhydraulic or other pressure is applied within the header through thechambers or heads 15 16 from the connected pressure-supply pipe 24,which communicates with a pressure tank or reservoir.

In Fig. 2 the machine'and header-holding devices are shown for operationinclined from the horizontal in order that the header andpressure-chambers may be emptied by gravitation when liquid pressure isapplied for testing.

What Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. In amachine for expanding tubes into sheets or headers, the combination of aframework, a driven shaft mounted longitudinally therein, a support fora transverse shaft mounted upon the framework and adjustablelongitudinally thereon, a transverse shaft mounted in said support,gearing mounted in said support and arranged between the said transverseand longitudinal shafts and including a reversing-clutch, and an expanding-tool driven by the said transverse shaft, substantially as setforth.

2. In a machine for expanding tubes into sheets or headers, thecombination of a fixed framework, a support for the header, a supportlongitudinally adjustable upon the framework in front of the header, adriven shaft mounted in the said support, an expanding-tool, and auniversal-joint connection between the said shaft and tool, whereby thetool is adapted to expand a tube whose axis is out of line with thedriving-shaft of the expanding-tool, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for expanding tubes into headers, the combination of asupport for a header, a framework substantially parallel with the faceof the header, a support longitudinally movable upon said framework, adriven shaft mounted in the said support, an expanding-tool, andconnections between the driven shaft and the tool including the slidingshank 22, whereby the expandingtool is adapted to operate at varyingdistances from its driving-shaft, substantially as set forth.

4.. -In a machine for expanding tubes into headers, the combination of asupport for a header, a framework substantially parallel with the faceof the header, a support longitudinally movable upon said framework, adriven shaft mounted in the said support, an expanding-tool, andconnections between the driven shaft and the tool, including a slidingshank 22, and universal joints, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses;

JOHN J. (JAIN.

Witnesses:

WM. J. BUTLER, J. F. DESMOND.

